The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-09-29


old veterans took part in the parade headed
by the HackettstOwn Silver COrnet Band. On
arriving at the Public School grounds, the well
come address was made by A. III. Dellicker,
Chairman of the Citizens Committee. Speeches
were also made by several Of the old boys.
NEW YORK.
The survivors Of the 12ith n. Y. held their
Reunion at Cornwall recently. Gen. Charles
Taft presided. About 100 of the comrades an
swered the roll-call. There were over 5000
people in attendance. Capt. J. L. Smith, of
Washington, spoke as follows:
Mr.. President, LADIES AND GEyTLE1EN: An
invitation to meet the Orange Blossoms" is an
honor indeed and to me is fraught with such gIor-
Gus memories that even after the eloquent addresses
that have captivated you am embroidered to offer
my mite to the laurels that crown with imperish-
able fame the gallant Filth y. Y. Outside of its
own ranks believe there not many living who
are more familiar with its daring deeds the his
toric field Of Gettysburg than he who stands before
you, and it is q of the duty owe TO you and
to the truths of history that encourages me enter
upon the untried role of orator to-day. / know
that you, boys, who stood by my guns in '63, will
judge me leniently If / fail 80 do justice to the
blest theme that tongue pen of man essayed.
The curtain of the years rolls back as look into
the eyes of the tried and true whom first met
amid the wild din OF battle on the grim and rocky
crest of Devils Dem" four and twenty years ago
last July. The causes which led up to that meeting
need no mention but will, with your kind per-
mission. enter into some details to make plain the
position of and gallant work performed by the
regiment whose silver wedding we celebrate to-
day. After Gen Sickles, commanding Third Corps,
had perfected his lines that eventual I'd of July
63, his left land up to nearly o'clock p. the
LEFT of the Federal army rested along Heucks
Den" terminating at Devils Den" This ridge fs
located 500 yards west of Little Round Top. run
ming north and south across the Valley of Plum
Run, and second only to the Round Tops in point
of natural advantages for defensive operations.
From this position Gen. SiclSes decided to defend
the key to the Federal lines When the battle be-
the l9lfh - " and Ifh Me and 4th " v inde
pendent battery were posted on the left. of the
battery four guns were ranged along the ridge,
with left piece resting near n large boulder just
over the DEVILS Den" These guns covered the
valley west, TO and beyond the EmmittsbuTg road,
and two guns were posted on lower ground 20
yards in rear to guard the pass of Plum Run Gorge.
The l2ith ". Y. lay on their arms 10 yards in rear
OF the guns on the ridge. while the 4th Ne. oeeu-
pied ground more to the left These were the only
Federal troops in the valley until after the first
charge was repul5ed Shortly after o'clock p. IN.
the enemy opened fire from 10 guns in position
near the Emnittshurg road; the four Federal guns
replied and Kept up spirited duel for more than
an hour, when the Confederate infantry was OBJ
served to be making evident preparations to charge
our positions which soon followed resulting in,
truly believe the most terrific fighting of the war
Their objective point WAS Little Round Top, and iT
order to reach il they had either to pass the
crest or through the gorge. To accomplish this,
four brigades composed of Is regiments, were set
in motion under the command of the bold and
skillful Hood. Laws Brigade opened the dance
OF DEATH" closely followed by Benning, who IN
turn was supported by Anderson, with Robertson
in As they came sweeping along the valley
in three lines of battle, our guns on the crest
were kept in rapid and continuous action, and,
as acknowledged by the Confederate reports, with
fearful effect but still the dense gray lines advGnc
edi wide gaps were torn IN their ranks, out over
the rocks, through the underground, up the slope,
this solid mass of LongstTeets battlescarred veer
ans surged almost up to the muzZle Of the guns,
and then, the advance were in the act of club
bling their mus<ets To beat down the artilIerst5 nj
their guns turned and called to Col Ellis for help.
At the command of this beloved and brave officer,
up from the ground rose these silent men who had
been lying there quietly awaiting the supreme mo-
ment and, pouring through the battery, plunged
over the crest right on the bayOnets OF the advanc
ing Southrons with q resstless. dcath-defytng im-
petuosty that hurled them back to the stone fence
at the base of the slope. Here. however, they en-
cOuntered from front and flank n murderous fire
from fresh troops sheltered behind the stone fence
and bOulder5 in the gorge, and having lost fully
one-thrd of their number. including the gallant
Ellis, the dashing Cromwell, brave NieOls and
many others, and being without support, they bore
back their colOrs, aud with their faces to the foe,
the remnant OF rs brave band as ever poured out
their blood in defense of their country, slowly re-
tired Thus was the first assault of that terrible
afternoon repulSed by the Orange Blossoms"
aided by the battery and 4th Ne. Subsequently
the 9th " j. 10th N V. and still later the 99th Pa,
took part in the conflict repusing three charges,
and as firm the everlasting hills beneath their
feet did these heroes hold the key to Little Round
Top until the enemy swarmed through the gorge
and over the crest. At this critical moment Haz-
let's guns Numbered the welcome news from the
summit of Little Round Top that ii was occupied
and impTegnabe. Then, weary and worn, the men
who had defended the passage to Plum Ran Gorge
in the valley of death against superior force,
tired in rear of the new line. These. % patriotic
citizens of Orange your blossoms, and thus did
they bear themselves in the fore front of battle.
They that had fought so well,
Came through the jaws of death,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them"
And these are the men who held the Federal left
while their comrades of the Third Corps were
withstanding the fearful onslaught of MeLaws Hill
and others at the Peach Orchard and along the En-
mittsburs road. These are the men who held at
bay the flower of the Confederate battalionS until
Gen. Meade succeeded in getting troops in position
on the SUBMITS of the Round Tops. These are the
men who held the position eonfded to their keep
ing until the object for which they were fighting
obtained. If the enemy lost the Round Tops
by less than five minutes, as claimed, the blood
shed in the valley of Plum Run between o'clock
and o'clock p. on the afternoon OF July 1868,
was not spilled in vain. Nor should the rash charge
of the Orange Blossoms" be forgotten.
30. the wild charge they made,
When can their glory fade"
Never while vaor and devotionare honored among
men.
Addresses were also made by Gen. J. III.
Hobert Ward, Rev. DIR. Roe, Maj. Bradley, Gen.
Taft and Comrade Quick.
III. w. Prince, SOuthOld: The survivors of
Co. III, 18th N. ", held Reunion at Mt. Pleas
ant Hotel, Orient, recently. Rev. DR.. Moment,
of Brooklyn, delivered the address Of the even
ing.
The survivors of the 4th N. Y. II. A. will
hold Reunion at Rochester Oct. II and 10.
The first Reunion of the survivors of the 35th
n. Y. will be held at WATERFOWL, n. y, Dec.
Is. 1887 All surviving members are requested
to send their address to the Secretary, Thomas
Powers.
At the Reunion of the old 9th n. Y. at
Mexico recently, L. Z. Potter, of Sandy Creek,
was elected President, and w. J. Pentelow, of
this city, Secretary, 1t was decided to hold a
Reunion and banquet sometime the coming
year, and Messrs. L. F. Potter, w. j. Pentelow
to mako arrangements and designate the time
and place of holding the Reunion.
Juo. A. Keteham, Goshen: The seventh an
nual Reunion of the survivors of the 1st n. Y.
Engineers will be held at Goshen, Orange
County, on Tuesday, Oct. Is.
The survivors of the 56th ". Y. held Re-
union at Livingston Manor, recently. About
225 of tho old "vets" were in attendance. A
grand parade was held in the forenoon. Adj
dresses were made by john III. Divine, w. III.
Williams, Rev. Mr.. Keogan and others. The
next Reunion will be held at Middletown.
The survivors of the 18th n. Y. held Re-
union Sept. II ut Brooklyn. Addresses were
made by L. Il. Donovan, Col. Janlison, Maj.
Kruger, Lieut.. Daley and others.
The survivors of the 1l2th NY. held grand
| Reunion at jamestown recently. The address
| of welcome was made by Mayor Price. lie was
| responded to by Adjt Lowry. Addresses were
| also made by Maj. w. 5. Cameron, Lieut.. A. O..
were elected President, Capt f. A. Curtis, of
| Fredonia; V.-P., Austin III. Stafford, of May
vile; Sec. 'Comrade Blood, of Broeson; Treas,
| L. l.. Hanchett, of jamestown.
The 18th annual Reunion of the Engineer
/ Rrioade ARMY of the Potomac WAS held nj